A CRITICISM OF THE CELL-THEORY. 165 
puscle of protoplasm is in esse as also in posse a unit of 
independent vitality, a multinucleate corpuscle or mass of 
protoplasm is in posse composed of separate cells (units of 
independent vitality if one chooses to call them so) whilst still 
in esse a single unit of independent vitality ? 
To continue the subject. We now know also that division 
into cells is not necessarily, though it sometimes may be, 
division into units of independent vitality, but is often (may we 
not say generally ?) incomplete separation into form elements 
which may indeed, under certain conditions, be completely 
separated, and exhibit an independent vitality (Begonia), but 
under normal conditions participate in the vitality of the whole 
plant or animal by means of their connections with their 
fellows. Hence we must conclude, as it seems to me, that the 
elementary parts of organisms are not independent life units 
in esse. They may be soin posse in many cases, but as 
differentiation and specialization progress they lose this power 
also, and cannot, when separated from the whole of which they 
form a part, exhibit independent activities. 
This consideration leads to the apparent paradox, that the 
higher the organisation the less conjunct and, at the same 
time, the less independent are its parts ; the lower the organisa- 
tion the more conjunct, but also the more independent are its 
parts. 
This is a puzzle which has, for years past, exercised the 
minds of biologists. There is, I believe, but one solution of 
the difficulty, and it is to be found in the physiological import 
of cells. 
But before we can enter into this question we must finally 
satisfy ourselves, as far as circumstances allow, about the 
morphological concept of a cell. 
That the cell is a thing cognisable, and that it is not an 
unreal figment, due to imperfect observation or to hopelessly 
prejudiced interpretation of our observations, as Mr. Sees 
would make us believe, I will try to show. 
A cell is a “ body,” and therefore an external cause to winch 
we attribute our sensations. I would submit that, without 
